8 Ways To Shop Smarter

24hrs in the Life of Fashion Designer and Lifestyle Consultant Van der Haer

7.00am 
I usually wake up and start checking emails with an Americano and sippin on some lemon water to cleanse.
 I'd rather be designing frocks and rolling around in French crepe chiffon all day! But hey, business and fashion go hand in hand like cheese and ham! 
After checking all my social media Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc Honestly, it seems like Lifes one big popularity contest these days! The key is translating ones popularity into sells!


7.30am I get showered and dressed to impress (always!) I fix some breakfast which on a good clean eating day is a green smoothie mixed with berries, frozen banana and some spinach and whey powder blitzed in my Nutribullet -never leave home without it!





9-10.30pm Gym
Living in Dubai your constantly fighting for balance between the courtesy catered champagne events and keeping fit! I this time round am making it a point to be a lifestyle and not a band aid for bad habits. My fave thing is using weights and doing squats! Best results you'll ever get!






11-12pm Inkas & Unique magazine
What do you get when you meet a armored vehicles company and Jet set magazine publisher? Inkas and Unique Global magazine that's what. I meet with Dubai Celebrity Artist,Jim Wheat of Dollarsandart, and entering the premises am gobsmacked at the slick Bond like interior housed in a warehouse in Dubai Investment Park. All that was missing is some gadgets but the armored vehicles fitted out for Royalty and HNI did more then kept my attention. What's this to do with fashion? Well the clientele who buy these souped up 6 figure vehicles very well buy Van der Haer. Unique Global also talk to me about getting in touch to an interview for their online private jet magazine.  

Not your average client..


11.30 Precise 3-d Printers
I meet with the C.E.O Lothar and catch up after a long time having been away, we also discuss exciting new design possibilities and our collaboration. I cant wait to share with you the exciting new designs I'm working on with Precise Ltd. who specialize in 3-D printing! If your not familiar with the concept yet, then check it out!

Images Cristina Franceschini

12.30-1.30: Lunch Social House

In love with this Chinese food hub !

2pm: Fragrance Du Bois

 "You were born an original, don't become a copy" - Coco Chanel 

Fragrance Du Bois Quintessential Luxury

I was invited to sample the Du Bois Oud Fragrance Experience. I had little to no idea what to expect of this exotic oil perched from Aquilaria trees that tediously yet organically creates its very existence.
 Meeted and greeted I was introduced to the C.E.O Dean Henry. Dean led me into a room overlooking the City's Media Hub and Marina and we sat and discussed a little background on the brand before walking me over to a beautiful custom steam trunk that housed dozens of little black glass bottles with even more exotic and enticing names color coded labels on them. A bit like Alice through the looking glass ;-)

5 Interesting Oud Facts

1. Ouds origin can be traced back to Biblical times. 
2. It's value is worth more then gold
3. Its derived from the dark resinous wood of the Aquilaria tree
4. This resin occurs in less than 7% of trees in the wild
5. Oud is highly valued and traded in the Middle East to date.

C.E.O Dean walks and talks me through the intricate process of extracting their priceless Oud oil but more so how they replant the trees with every one extracted. Finally! A luxury product with a conscious that's also sustainable!

If I ruled the World...

Dean Henry 'nose' just what hes doing- sorry, I could'nt resist the pun!

If your gonna pop bottles..your gonna need Du Bois to step your game up!

The Bespoke fragrance especially created for Boxing champ David Haye

Box of Chocolates are so last year!
Need a special gift for a specials someone?!
Try this Du Bois custom made box of fragrance delights!

Decadent crystal bottles cut through the Dubai's sunny skyline

Even the Aquilaria wood is recycled into charm bracelets for keepsakes.

Attention to detail from conception-to-product-to -client

This beautiful custom crock steam trunk opens up to a Pandora's box of Du Bois Fragrance samples for each and every personality!

4pm: Head home with Dubai traffic, I pick up tickets for The Meydan Races where I've been invited by Jim Wheat to wine dine and watch the races from the V.I.P Box tomorrow night with Fashion One TV as our guests. 

5pm Emails catchup and the last of phone calls for the day. If Im lucky I get to sketch and develop ideas for my Ready-to-wear launch collection in April for Si-Fashion Gallery. I then will shut off play some Lemon Jelly or Ibiza Chill and cook some homey food. 

10pm 
If I'm a good girl its bed and a book and if its a must then I'm seeing a client or friend for a couple virgin cocktails and talk of upcoming events and new collaborations for a couple hours before I turn into a pumpkin!lol



Thanks for tuning in....to be continued!....

All I want for Christmas is....New Years at Jumierah Four Seasons Hotel

Dress by Zara and Knee high Boots & Bag by New Look

Portfolio- Couture

All dress designs and photos are copyrighted by Vanity Mode a division of  Van der Haer ltd Uk.

5 Great Gift Ideas for Him

1.

Dopp Bag Travel Kit by Baxter of California
This TSA approved batch of skin and hair grooming products is readily accessible for the everyday action man! Beverly Hill based Baxter even took care to make leak resistant bottles to ensure no messy accidents in your gym bag or brief case! http://www.baxterofcalifornia.com/

2.

It's a TV!
It's a Phone!
Its' a......Bird?!
Now that's just plain silly!
...It's The LG Smartwatch!
Coming to you soon!

3.


This 2pc. key ring made in Florence Italy, promises only to get better with wear
and rather then look like a school janitor the two brass rings allow you to carry more
without the bulk! $58 at Unionmade

4.

This sick slick new Playbar by Sonos is a must for anyones apartment! Get rid

of those messy unsightly wires and enjoy streaming your music from your Sonos tablet and Smartphone. This fine beauty even supports all your music streaming from anywhere in the Globe! www.sonos.com


5.

Who doesn't fancy a game of chess?! I'm a checkers girl myself but either way visit www.shapeways.com
and surf a online community of products designed by the people and for the people using high quality 3D printers. Even better yet for the Inventor in him, buy a voucher and let him design and create his own gadget/product!

ESMOD 2013 Graduation Fashion Show

On the 19th June at Wafi Mall I had the pleasure of attending the ESMOD 5th Graduation Fashion show. ESMOD  a sister branch of the renowned ESMOD Paris Fashion school has been established in Dubai since 2006. Giving local and International talent the resources and platform to prepare for working in the fashion industry.

1st , 2nd years and 3rd Graduates paraded their end of year collections to a crowd of family and press with onlooking shoppers gawking from all visible corners. 

I was directed to my front row spot complete with 3 kilo goody bag adorning the seat (who doesn't love a good goody bag?) and took my place with notebook and camera phones in hand to await the show.

First year students was a culmination of different styles too many for me to review here but I can say there were lots of asymmetric details, geometric prints, abstracts and a contrast of soft and rigid materials used in the form of foiling, laces and leathers. The pretty and some what silly and without further adieu lets get down to the nitty gritty!   

papped by Ahlan #frontrow #fashion #report

I did adore this take on the trench coat with a full circle skirt and a hint and military cording across the chest. Wonderful blush colour to compliment any summer wardrobe

1st years take a bow

Ironically, one of my favorite collections of the evening was by, Lilian Neda Mayel Afshar, her collection was influenced by the art of Austrian Symbolist painter Gustav Klimt, and his Judith 1 (Femme Fatale) piece in particular. Lilian took this classic point of time and modernized it for today with contemporary cuts, mesh and neoprene sportswear fabrics and a clever use of color blocking and Art Deco prints. I would definitely go for the elegant yet edgy swing cape and printed waist high skirts. Lilian truly grasped the concept of a R-T-W collection with pieces that were interchangeable and could easily tick off a Buyers list for day, sport and evening wear. It was no surprise to see her later rewarded for the Luxury Ready to Wear category - Fashion design award & Pattern Making Award: 

A talent definitely worth looking out for!

A sporty futuristic collection with an array of colored leathers 

Games of Thrones influenced Anum Moosa "Modern Knights" collection

Dorsa Babael's Couture collection entitled Shells of Serenity

Samira Kugok Luxury Ready-to-Wear) and her Holy Blonde collection was fun, feminine and hinted back to Dior's New Movement period with its leopard print and 50's cut frocks. My only criticism here would be the shine of the silk poly fabric let down what otherwise could of been a more richer look collection in a more luxurious fabric. 

Origami inspired touches on crinoline skirts and bodices

Michel Klaassen AKA DJ Tellurian from Amsterdam mixing during the 5th Annual graduation fashion show 

Hair by Sisters Beauty Lounge Photo by Luma

The winners of our 2013 Graduation Ceremony Awards: 

Ready to Wear category - Fashion Design Award & Pattern Making Award: Vera N.

Luxury Ready to Wear category - Fashion design award & Pattern Making Award: Lilian A.

New Couture category - Fashion Design Award & Pattern Making Award: Fatemeh B.

Costume Design category - Design Award & Pattern Making Award: Sukhmani K.

Jury Award: Lilian A.

DIAC Excellence Award: Samira K. & Lilian A.